Machete-Swinging Man Gunned Down By Father and Son Duo During Backyard Brawl in South Carolina Over Trespassing

A South Carolina father and son duo allegedly shot a man to death on Dec. 7 while he was holding his machete, Lexington deputies said.

According to the Lexington County Sheriff's Office, 52-year-old Ryan Lindler Sr. instructed his son, 26-year-old Ryan Lindler Jr. to take a machete away from their neighbor and shoot him.

The victim, identified as Kevin Newhouse, was unarmed at the time of the fatal shooting, where he lived close to the Lindlers.

During interviews with both suspects, deputies determined that the three men were involved in an argument after the Linders tracked Newhouse and kept him from being able to leave and return to his home.

According to the sheriff's office, "This all started with the Lindlers confronting Newhouse about a trespassing incident they said happened just before at another address."

The younger Lindler told police that during the confrontation, Newhouse swung the machete at him and his father, striking each of them during the altercation. That's when he allegedly fired three to four rounds from a Glock handgun.

At least one shot fatally struck Newhouse in the head, according to the incident report.

Both the handgun and a machete were recovered during a search of the Linders' truck.

Deputies apprehended Lindler Sr. and Lindler Jr. and booked them into the Lexington County Detention Center. They were each charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime and remain held without bond.

"It's going to come down to property rights, vandalism, a history of trespassing — the right to defend others," said attorney Eric Bland, whose law firm Bland Richter is representing the elder Lindler. "All things that property owners guard for and against. People in Lexington County, South Carolina, value their property, and a lot of citizens respect each other's property." 

Both father and son intend to fight the charges vigorously, he told Fox News.